Thanks!

I spent a couple years building a family tree. There was almost no info on my dads side past my grandfather.

You would be amazed where people used to write stuff down back in the 30s and 40s to keep their records.

 

Lost my dad 10 years ago and my Mom a few months ago. Its unreal what they hung on to. Just found a box of books and some magazines that date back to the 20's. Wonder if ND knows about that stuff. Prolly.

 

20 years ago...hmmm Who would you think of in NorCal that may have acquired this truck? Our 'ol pal Preston Ledbetter.

Preston scrounged the CV for trucks and parts, I know this cuz we took a coupla these trips together. He sold most of what he had to the fellow (now an FTE member) in Los Banos before he passed away.

I cannot remember the members user name, it's related to MercMan or Mercman58, or something like that.

 

Good Old Preston! Odd you mention him Bill because I did also yesterday. I was trying to give Ilya some directions to a spring shop that used to be in that industrial complex off Barryessa Rd in SJ close to "Prestons F-100s".

VA Farms - here's a correction to something I mentioned above. The guy that dismantles the trucks in central California is in Kingsburg, not Kingman.

I have done business with him before (bought my front fenders) and he is an honest guy.

Here is one of his auctions on e-bay if you ever need to get ahold of him:

1951 1952 Ford Truck Left Fender: eBay Motors (item 130431024739 end time Sep-19-10 07:11:24 PDT).

 

I noticed that 'Berryessa' post and the only source I know of that's located in Kingman is repro parts seller Mid 50's. That's Kingman...AZ

 

AZ?......Yep........Well, I knew it was one of those places out there between Goshen and Fowler!

 

Land a Goshen, you omitted Selma (that CA, not AL) and Traver...no wonder you couldn't remember Kingsburg.

'Course from 33,000 ft, both look like tiny dots, so you're excused.

 

Hello everyone! I have not done much that would provide any updates to my search. I have been contemplating buying a truck similar to my Grandpas old truck, just keeping my eyes open for a deal on a 48-50 F3. I have way to many other projects to make this a priority.

A few details I have questions about,

I remember my grandpas truck having the stainless grill. From what I have read the stainless was on all of the early 48's? I don't know if this is true, or maybe true just for the F1? It was also an option for the deluxe trucks(I guess late 48-50)? I cannot find a comprehensive list of the differences between the standard and deluxe? I did read that you could order any/all of the deluxe items on a standard truck? My point being, and this is just a guess, I couldn't see a tractor company paying extra for a deluxe package for a parts truck. If the stainless was standard on the 48 that would point more toward it being a 48.

The other detail I remember was it had steel in the bed floor. My Grandpa was a welder, and this could have been added later. The information I have read is that the bed floors were scrap wood covered with metal until the late part of 1950.

This leads me to my last questions. I have read that the bedside changed to a flat side late in 1950 along with changing to a square stake pocket. Are they talking about the bed side, or the top rail? Does anyone know if these changes occurred at the same time the bed floor was changed to wood?

Thanks again for all of the help!

 

Edit: read Stu's post below for F1 vs F2/3 details. Yes, the flat side referred to the bedside, the top rails remained the same - flared out with a round tube.

 

Wait, wait. We're talking about an F-3, am I correct? The F-2/3 Express beds were unchanged during the whole F-2/3 run, 1948 to 1952. All had the raised side panels and sculpted pockets.

The grille part of this I don't know about, but am pretty sure there was no deluxe model during the 48-50 years. The "5 Star Extra" package didn't come along until 1951.

All Express bed floors were wood with skid strips. If your Grand Dad had a steel floor, he put it there. Stu

 

Hi Stu, I am glad you mentioned the floors were all wood with strips. I have read alot here about the metal floors in'49's and I have been looking for evidence of any old welds etc. in my bed. I had not seen any evidence of any metal floor and now I can stop wondering. Thanks!

 

The only F3 stainless grill I have ever read about, is the aftermarket add-ons.
of course I am not an expert.

 

AFAIK, all of the models of 1948 trucks had the stainless grille trim until whenever they discontinued the option. I've seen them on big jobs and coe's even. So that wasn't an F1 only thing at all. And I've never seen any evidence of it being an available option in later years, either. FWIW. Chances are if it was an original truck and had the trim, it was a '48.

And as Stu mentioned, only the F1 beds made the change in mid year 1950. All of the F2/3 beds had the raised panel sides and exposed wood floor.

 

You all are awesome! Thanks for the quick reply's.

Stu, yes I am talking about the F3 model. So the half tons did the bed metal/wood switch in 50 but not the F2-F3. Must have been my Grandpas handy work (I remember it as diamond plate, that would have not matched what I read anyways, that the factory work was smooth). That clears that question up.

Looks like there may be a little debate on the F3 with a stainless grill from the factory?

Let me ask, if I had an F3 without, and I took the stainless from an F1, would it fit onto the F3 grill length wise (I know mounting holes would need to be drilled)?

Thanks again!

 

The grille is the same size, and would mount the same on all the different models. Stu